ONSTED — More than military marches will be on the program when a U.S. Army band plays in Onsted next month.

Mike McNally from the Onsted American Legion Post #550 said a cross-section of American music is in store for people attending the 7 p.m. Jan. 26 performance of the 338th United States Army Reserve Band in the Onsted High School cafetorium.

Tickets for the concert are free and available at Hubbard Auto Center, 275 S. Main St., Onsted, or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Army Band, General Delivery, Onsted MI 49265. Include the number of tickets needed, as seating is limited.

McNally and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Amy Ashcraft said the band, which currently serves under the 88th Regional Support Command headquartered at Fort McCoy, Wis., will play a variety of American music. Fanfares, marches and country and service songs will be heard during the concert, McNally said. Among the non-march selections are “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Army Blue,” “Auld Lang Syne,” and “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” which is also known as “The Caisson Song.”

“You might not get many people at a concert where they are just playing (John Phillip) Sousa,” McNally said.

The concert band consists of approximately 70 musicians, Ashcraft said.

“Our members range in age from 20 to 59.5. The Army requires most soldiers to retire once they hit age 60,” Ashcraft said. “We come from all walks of life and many career fields. Some of these include: teacher, school principal, truck driver, college student, and dog trainer.”

The band has performed at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and at the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day Parade.

The 338th band has ensembles based in Livonia and Whitehall, Ohio.

According to the website, www.goarmy.com, the Army band program is open to talented musicians, male or female, who are qualified to enlist in the Army and can pass a prearranged audition. If accepted into the program, musicians will be required to complete nine weeks of Basic Combat Training to learn the fundamentals of being a soldier.

After basic training, band members get down to 10 weeks of serious musical study at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Va. Once that is completed, members are assigned to a band.

McNally said a limited number of seats are available and that people who ask for tickets should use them. He reminded people that the concert is free of charge.